Democratic lawmakers urge the Pentagon to keep the military out of US law enforcement

Two Democratic lawmakers on Thursday urged the Pentagon to help the United States military reject improper political influence in the 2024 presidential election and other domestic affairs this election cycle.

Former President Donald Trump has said he would potentially send military forces to the southern border in order to help with the country's current immigration crisis, according to The Hill, though he admitted that he would send the National Guard first. The two lawmakers also claimed that the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 included plans to "invoke the Insurrection Act."

Democratic Reps. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, sent the letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other top military officials, urging them to serve as “guardrails against using the military in domestic affairs."

“There is no greater responsibility than the oath of office we swear to the Constitution," Sherrill said in a statement.  “Donald Trump betrayed that oath time and again, particularly on January 6 when he jeopardized the peaceful transfer of power. As we prepare for another presidential election, we are calling on our military leaders to reject improper political influence and to take necessary steps to preserve the bedrock foundation of our democracy.”

The lawmakers specifically asked the Pentagon to reaffirm that federal law bans the military from taking part in domestic law enforcement, and that deploying troops under the Insurrection Act is illegal except in very specific circumstances.

"The nonpartisan tradition of military service and the constitutional guardrails that prevent our military from becoming a domestic police force, are essential to maintaining our democracy," the lawmakers wrote in the letter. "We are relying on you to preserve the system that our Founding Fathers designed."

The lawmakers requested the leaders respond to their letter by Aug. 31. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.